§ 32. Mr. HopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to assist mothers with the costs of maternity. [88059]
§ Mr. BayleyWe are extending Maternity Allowance to women who earn £30 a week or more and increasing it for self-employed women, who currently receive less benefit than employed women.
The existing Social Fund Maternity Payment will be replaced with a Sure Start Maternity Grant from April 2000 and doubled from £100 to £200 for each child.
These improvements will give low-earning mothers-to-be some financial help towards the costs of a new baby, enable them to take their full entitlement to maternity leave and help them achieve a better balance between work and family life.